Does QT stress a fish? Informational.
Putting a fish into a tank with sand and rock---vs putting them into a bare glass qt.
Does it bother them?
Not as much as you'd think. What are a fish's priorities?
1. a place to hide that's not *owned* by someone who's going to kill him.
2. a place that's fairly dimly lit.
3. being able to breathe for a while without being chased
4. a place generally free of politics and bigger fish...remember he's just been through an ordeal and just wants a place to sit and catch his breath.
5. a place to go when the lights go out: this is life and death, and not having a place is serious stress. This is when fights happen and fish can get killed.
6. a place where they can eat well without being challenged.
7. a place where if they are tired or stressed, they can sit.
and not on his list, but very important:
8. if he's got bugs or bacteria that need treatment, he doesn't first have to be chased down with a net and housed with 10 other fish in a bare tank and then dosed with something basically toxic to bugs just a little faster than it is to fish. He can get treated and sit and rest free of harassment. AND he won't have shed his 'fleas' (ich) into the tank to infest everybody.
A qt with a fist-sized pvc elbow fits the bill very nicely. He doesn't need a rock. He'll be happier with the elbow where he can go in and have a 'hole' that doesn't smell of other fish or present no place to really hide.
And after 4 weeks of personal attention, pampering and special feeding---he'll go into the new tank rested and able to hold his own.
Putting a fish into a tank with sand and rock---vs putting them into a bare glass qt.
Does it bother them?
Not as much as you'd think. What are a fish's priorities?
1. a place to hide that's not *owned* by someone who's going to kill him.
2. a place that's fairly dimly lit.
3. being able to breathe for a while without being chased
4. a place generally free of politics and bigger fish...remember he's just been through an ordeal and just wants a place to sit and catch his breath.
5. a place to go when the lights go out: this is life and death, and not having a place is serious stress. This is when fights happen and fish can get killed.
6. a place where they can eat well without being challenged.
7. a place where if they are tired or stressed, they can sit.
and not on his list, but very important:
8. if he's got bugs or bacteria that need treatment, he doesn't first have to be chased down with a net and housed with 10 other fish in a bare tank and then dosed with something basically toxic to bugs just a little faster than it is to fish. He can get treated and sit and rest free of harassment. AND he won't have shed his 'fleas' (ich) into the tank to infest everybody.
A qt with a fist-sized pvc elbow fits the bill very nicely. He doesn't need a rock. He'll be happier with the elbow where he can go in and have a 'hole' that doesn't smell of other fish or present no place to really hide.
And after 4 weeks of personal attention, pampering and special feeding---he'll go into the new tank rested and able to hold his own.
